Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Ice Axes?

Okay out there. All of you winter experts... I am asking advice. I am expanding into more winter hiking and wanted to get opinions on axe length. Kurt at SMI (in his snow travel class info) says 60-70 is a good length. So the easy way out would be 65, but I value imput. So let the opinions begin.

Thanks to all...

Kurt is right as always when it comes too this kinda stuff and he is referring to the size the average person uses. You need to go to a store and take it for a test drive to find the size that fits you best. Hold the axe in a belay or arrest grip and relax your arm at your side. The right length axe should be the one that the spike just barely touches the ground. I am 5'10 but all legs and use a 75, and my friend is also 5'10 and a 70 fits him better. Try a few out and see what you like. For general mountaineering this is the right size, later on you may find yourself constantly in very steep terrain and want something shorter, but this method will get you going for a long time to come.

It depends on the stuff you will be doing. Low angle, longer axe; high angle, shorter axe.

I carry a 75 CM...I am long legged, and most of the stuff I do is lower angle.

I'm 6 ft tall and use a 60cm axe. I only use it on snowy & icy slopes, and the 60 cm length seems about right for what I do. I don't limit my axe to winter use - it makes a great spring-summer-fall digging tool, bullet-proof tent stake, and for digging out chunks of hard snow for melting into water in high, If I had enough cash, I might even buy a shorter axe strictly for non-winter use.

Cheers.

Scott L has it right as far as the way to select a length goes, though I would err on the shorter side if you can't find the exact length. For steeper, more technical terrain you'll want a shorter one. I have a lightweight 70 cm for general mountaineering, and a 60 cm technical axe for climbs that might call for using it as an anchor. If you ever progress to needing a more technical axe I would suggest that you get the shortest one that you can still hold securely across your chest in arrest position.